Newsletter

SummerFest adds four restaurants to food booth list

Festival will be May 23-24 at Most Pure Heart of Mary School

From left, Marie Apel, Bob Faught and Maria Dennison, co-chairs of SummerFest 2014, say this year marks the 20th anniversary of the festival, which raises money for nonprofit organizations meeting the needs of the Topeka community. SummerFest 2014 wil be Friday and Saturday on the grounds of Most Pure Heart of Mary School, 1800 S.W. Stone Ave.

Organizers of SummerFest 2014 are hoping the addition of four new restaurants to its vendor list will attract more people to the summer-kickoff celebration.

Joining the Knights of Columbus barbecue and carnival food will be Monsoon Indian Grill, El Mescal, G’s Custard and Hot Java Cafe.

“We are bringing in community restaurants and reaching out to the neighborhood and Topeka community,” Marie Apel, co-chair of the SummerFest 2014 Committee, said.

SummerFest 2014 will be from 4 to 11 p.m. Friday and 7:55 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday on the grounds of Most Pure Heart of Mary School, 1800 S.W. Stone Ave.

In addition to the food vendors, an Italian dinner featuring build-your-own pasta with red vodka, basil cream or alfredo sauces, meatballs, salad and desserts will be served from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, and a chicken dinner with coconut-breaded chicken tenders, grilled chicken, potatoes au gratin, macaroni and cheese, corn on the cob and desserts will be served from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, both in O’Connor Hall.

“Everything’s homemade,” said Maria Dennison, who is overseeing the dinners with chef Jerry Farrell.

Cost of the dinners is $8 for adults, $5 for youths ages 4-11, and free to children 3 years and younger.

“We try to make it affordable so they can bring their families,” said Apel, who expects 250 to 300 dinners to be served.

Other events on Friday night include a Twice the Price Garden Emporium in the atrium and DJ on the Main Stage, 4 to 7 p.m.; games, rides and a beer garden, 4 to 11 p.m.; Twice the Price Used Book Sale in the Formation Room, 6 to 9 p.m.; and the Mikey Needleman Band on the Main Stage, 8 to 11 p.m.

Saturday’s events include Mass, 7:55 a.m.; used book sale in Formation Room and Garden Emporium in atrium, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; bake sale in Parish Center lobby, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; games and rides, 10 to 11:30 a.m.; bingo in O’Connor Hall, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Master Overbey’s U.S. Marital Arts Exposition on the Main Stage, 3 to 3:30 p.m.; Mass, 4 to 5 p.m.; beer garden, 5 to 11:30 p.m.; and The Bop Daddies on the Main Stage, 8 to 11:30 p.m.

A raffle drawing will be at 6 p.m. on the Main Stage, with prizes ranging from $5,000 to $50. Raffle tickets are $10.

SummerFest, founded 20 years ago, is designed to bring parish families together and raise money for the needs of the parish, as well as the Topeka community. Co-chair Bob Faught said proceeds from past festivals have gone to Catholic Charities, Doorstep Inc., Let’s Help and other nonprofit organizations.

“All of the money pulls into the church and then pushes out to meet the needs,” Apel said.